No date set for response to PCEHR review

Written by Kate McDonald on 16 January 2014.

Health Minister Peter Dutton is currently considering the report prepared by the Royle PCEHR review panel received just prior to Christmas, but has not committed to a date for the government's response.

Mr Dutton issued a brief statement on December 20 announcing he had received the report from the three-man panel, which was convened in early November and asked to review the implementation and uptake of the PCEHR.

The review's terms of reference included assessing the level of consultation with end users during the development phase, the level of use of the PCEHR by healthcare professions in clinical settings, barriers to increasing usage in clinical settings, and key clinician and patient usability issues.

The head of the review, UnitingCare Queensland's executive director Richard Royle, told the HITWA conference in Perth in November that there was “no intention to kill off” the PCEHR. A large number of invited responses were submitted, some of which are available here.

A spokesman for Mr Dutton said it was too early in the process to answer questions put to him by Pulse+IT about the PCEHR, as well as the future of the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA), funding for which is due to end on June 30.

Pulse+IT understands that the federal government has not yet committed to its 50 per cent share of ongoing support for the COAG-funded organisation, and nor have some states.

Mr Dutton's spokesman said the minister was currently considering the report and its recommendations.

“It provides a comprehensive plan for the future of e health records in Australia,” he said. “The Minister will respond in more detail in due course.”

He did not respond to a question on whether the panel's report would be released publicly. Technology website Delimiter announced on January 6 that it had lodged a Freedom of Information request for the report.